Entering college is a major undertaking for any high school senior, and the students 826LA works with face systemic barriers, along with a dearth of college counselors at the Title I schools they attend. Over the course of the past decade, 826LA has addressed these inequities by offering intensive one-on-one coaching at the Great Los Angeles Personal Statement Weekend in the fall and Scholarship Day each spring. 

The 8th Annual Scholarship Day was scheduled for March 14–one day after LAUSD schools closed their doors to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and five days before Governor Newsom issued a statewide safer-at-home order. At first, the challenge seemed overwhelming: How could an educational organization maintain its commitment to college access when education itself suddenly seemed like a luxury?

Staff members responded by channeling the resilience they witness in students every day: They canceled the live event and, with breathtaking speed and thoroughness, reenvisioned it as the entirely virtual Scholarship Project.

Calling on volunteers who were trained in 826LA’s college access programs, staff provided additional project-specific training and matched 65 students with tutors who could help them transform their personal statement essays into scholarship essays. 

It wasn’t simply a matter of turning an in-person experience into a web-based one. COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted low-income communities and communities of color. Staff first had to ensure that students had internet access and basic resources. The first phase of the project was case management, which paved the way for educational support (see 826LA’s Resource Hub for Families). And the organization had to find a way to make online interactions anonymous, despite (and in part because of) the deeply personal nature of students’ work. 

While students only knew their tutors as tiny animal-themed icons at the top of a Google doc, the feedback that volunteers shared transcended the chill of cyberspace.

Here are a few examples:

• “You are an excellent writer and an exceptional person, and I can’t wait to see one of your buildings some day! I admire your perseverance and compassionate heart!” –Volunteer Liz G., to a student at Roosevelt High School
• “I am honored to help you with this essay. You have done many remarkable things and your ideas for the future, particularly creating a school and continuing your work with children and the arts, are inspiring….You’re going to do great things!” –Volunteer Miguel C., to a student at Inner-City Arts
• “I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOUR FUTURE…. SUERTE Y LUZ EN TU CAMINO! [good luck and light in your journey]” –Volunteer Michael R., to a student at Roosevelt High School

The benefits of the project flowed both ways. As one volunteer noted, “This gave me a much needed moment of normalcy and purpose. I am always inspired and impressed by all of the 826LA students.”

Each student worked on two scholarship applications, which were hand-selected by staff based on the student’s strengths, interests, needs, and circumstances. As a result, students said, they felt more secure about their futures and themselves.

“I like my scholarship essay a lot and feel confident about it. Thank you so, so much!” said 826LA student and Venice High School student Estafania F. 

Another student, Yozabeth N., said, “The remote attention from an 826LA tutor helped me with writing my scholarship essay because if it wasn’t for them, I don’t think I would’ve even applied to the scholarship. With everything going on, I don’t have much time, but them [working with me to outline it] helped me tremendously.”

At a time when the future feels uncertain for so many, it’s clear that students will need resources, support, and funding to pursue their college dreams. 826LA’s goal is to provide the first two so they can access the latter. As for la luz, the light? Students bring their own.